Notes / Commercial Description:
Named after brother Isidorus, Koningshoeven Abbey’s first brewer. Brewed to mark the occasion of the Trappist brewery’s 125th anniversary in 2009, Isid’or was so well received that it earned itself a permanent place in La Trappe’s line-up. Unfiltered, slightly sweet amber ale with a hint of caramel, which continues to ferment after bottling and has a rich, slightly bitter flavour, and a fruity aftertaste.

Reviews by Bierman9:

I stopped into the La Trappe brewpub with A-1 BA Brabander on 05Oct12. My first of two biers there was Isid'or, at €3.50 for a 0.25l glass.

The chalice held a clear, rich amber bier; truly a lovely hue, even if it was a little dark for a Belgian strong pale. Had a thin, fine, tan head; extremely fine, just a minute layer of bubbles. Lacing was excellent, I might add. Nose was mild, with some candi-sugar sweetness noted. Medium in body, it had a light, bubbly airiness on the tongue.

Candi-sugar sweetness also was on display in the flavor. Additionally, there was some caramel and toffee making it, to me, a bit dubbel-ish. I also detected some subtle hints of raisiny dark fruit. Solid, all in all. Thnx Thijs! Prosit!

More User Reviews:

The La Trappe Isid'or was brewed in 2009 to honor, and commemorate the 125th anniversary of the founding of the La Trappe Trappist Brewery by friar Isidorus Laaber. The beer was created for the entire world to enjoy, and bears La Tappe's first Brewmaster's name. Like all of La Trappe's beers, the profits from the sale of Isid'or will go directly to charitable causes, this specifically to their co-friars in Uganda to help them set up a community and a self sufficient monastery.

La Trappe (Koningshoeven) has been one of my most favorite breweries since I began drinking real beer - I do consider it an honor to be drinking this beer in La Trappe's original Brewmaster's esteemed memory. The Isid'or is classified as a Belgian Pale Ale - I'm not really sure where it belongs though. It is definitely not pale, has rich fruity flavors, but isn't a Dubbel or Quad. It is 7.5% abv, so its not quite a Belgian Strong Dark Ale either. I don't really care what beer style this should fit into, because really, I am just happy to be enjoying it.

The Isid'or comes in a Belgian style 330ml bottle, which is just enough to fill a Koningshoeven chalice, and also enough to tease me. I want more! I would love to find this in a 750ml bottle to age. After enjoying it I just imagined how smooth and wondrous it would be with another year or two to mellow and mature in the bottle.

I opened the Isid'or at cellar temperature around 12C (54F) and poured it into a Koningshoeven chalice, one of my favorites. The pour was smooth and gentle but showed rich life immediately as the beer hit the glass. A direct pour created a murky reddish brown beer with flecks of amber gold, brick, bronze and mahogany. A creamy and tightly packed head build up just over an inch with a nutty eggshell color. It's pretty gorgeous sitting in its chalice - the gold rim on the glass creates a crown for an otherwise kingly beer. Touches of golden brown shine through the center, and into the light it reveals a totally opaque and hazy depth.

The nose is packed with a huge wave of classically Dutch Trappist beer aromas; mulled fruits meet soft spices and earth. It begins with gentle malts showing both pale sweetness and dark richness. Bananas, plums, figs, dates, raisins and grapes are all over the nose with touches of cinnamon, coriander, pepper, all spice, and cloves. Hints of biscuit and apple sauce fade in the back with a gentle balance of floral herbs and a touch of booze. It is tantalizing and mouthwatering already.

It seems so fitting that Monks brewed this beer - even before tasting it you can tell that this is a beer meant to be sipped slowly, and savored. The first sip brought lush and gooey malts to the forefront of my palate showing wide dark fruits and a rustic yeast sensation. What I mean is that the sweet pale and crystal malts come through as a complex and hazy structure, rather than a clean and tight one. This beer has been crafted by the hands of the Monks, and you can tell.

Soft pears, plums, dates and apricots flow through your palate with an earthy backbone, but a silky and creamy texture. Hints of spice, grapes and yeast show up to add fresh flavors and a touch of balance to the Isid'or. Hops are gentle but very floral which, when paired with the esters and grassy aromas of the beer create a genuine sensation of heritage and traditional brewing.

As the beer warms, smoother more elegant malt flavors open with a still floral and earthy flavor. Malts begin to show caramel and melted toffee, and a hint more of bitter hops show up to play. The finish is long and warming creating a uniquely Trappist end to a masterful beer. I loved the smooth and balanced complexity of this beer, but it is the general flavor that had me reaching back for more. I love the richer and deeper Quadrupel, but this Isid'or is a touch more refined in character, but at the same time is much more rustic. Does that make sense?

Just try the beer if you can find it, and don't share it with any food. While I can think of a great many cheeses, desserts and mains that would work very well with this beer I would argue that it is meant to be savored as a meal itself.

Great belgian beer of a beautiful dark amber color and a nice beige foam.
Smell is really incredible - really sweet - with notes like caramel, chestnut honey, candy and dark chocolate with cherry. Some malty/yeasty character as well.
Taste has stronger malty character and some nice fruity notes, specially in the end.
Feel is not as great, but body and carbonation are really balanced and is a bit crispy; maybe more bitter would be great.
Yeah.. great one!

Poured into a large tulip glass a hazed lighter amber shade with some burnt orange tinge to it,a large fluffy white crown atop that left broken chunks of lace behind as it settled slowly.Bubble gum was the main thing I got in the nose,a bit of phenolic spice as well.Flavors are decent but one dimensional in the medicinal hop,and bubble gum notes,there is a some caramel malt and pear-like flavors that come in but they dont compete with the medicinal qualities.Its a good beer (not worth $11.99)but not great,someone who like Belgian hops and phenols would be more inclined to like this beer.

Belgian style bomber, caged and corked, $10.99 @ DeCicco's in Ardsley, NY. Happy 125th birthday Bierbrouwerij De Koningshoeven B.V., this one pours cloudy light brown/orangy amber, the lighter tan head is initially fluffy and about 3/4 inch in height, slowly the fade begins, very slowly, the head remains frothy and puffy, leaving a thick film, an ample collar and elongated bands of thick, sticky lace. Orangy, fruity nose with minty bubblegum also shining through. Fairly complex Belgian, with notes of more minty bubblegum, plenty of fruit, sweet malts and Belgian spice. On the sweet side of the street, tasty and warming none the less. Nice offering from the monks of La Trappe.

I picked this up on a recent trip to Austin. 11.2 ounce bottle poured into a Dogfish Head signature glass.

The beer pours a nice orange color with a white head. The aroma is strong Belgian yeast with some fruit, wheat and bubblegum. Very nice smelling. The flavor is very similar with the bubblegum and fruit being fairly strong. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Okay, maybe its the geek I try to suppress, but I was very excited to try this beer, mostly because it just sounded old and important. I was not disappointed. Poured a hazy orange-gold with a short, creamy white head. Some lacing in the tulip glass. Dank, fruity aroma reminiscent of a trippel. Apples, pears, clove, spice, and sweet yeast. Direct is not always bad. Lively mouthfeel adds to the taste. Long finish. Very, very nice flavor. Smooth, spiced fruit and pale malt character draws you in. Mostly sweeter spices, but a touch of white pepper. Plays well with the white apple and tangy fruit. Warming finish. A great long-sipper that makes you sad when the bottle is empty.

Pulling the cork releases a big burst of oak with stone fruit. This is a young bottle - older bottles have more sherry notes on the nose and palate.
It pours a hazy peach under a 3" under a bone white foam cap that is persistent and lacy.
The young bottle has apricot to peach fruit flavors joined with a dash of pineapple while in older versions it turns more to prune and sherry. Light biscuit lightly flavored by caramel shows up in the middle and it dries slightly by the finish with a suspicion of cider.
The body is medium for such a big beer and the very fine soft carbonation gives it an extraordinary creaminess.